External Legal Services
The All-of-Government External Legal Services (ELS) panel contracts have been led by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment on behalf of government agencies. Agencies across the Public sector can access a panel of 39 providers plus Crown Law.
Scope
All External Legal Services, excluding:
- Barristers Sole and Queen’s Counsel
- Category 1 legal services
- Patent Attorneys
- Overseas firms
Contract term
2+2+2 years, from 22/12/2011
Number of Providers
39 + Crown Law
Here are some brief highlights of the contract
- We have negotiated hourly rates that have resulted in savings of 18% to government agencies
- Agencies can instruct legal work in any area of law to any of the panel providers (the providers are promoted in certain areas of law but can provide work in all areas of law)
- There is flexibility to use a non-panel provider when the panel is not meeting your needs
- The only reporting requirements upon an agency are to:
- Complete an online survey every quarter about a provider you instructed during that quarter, answering 6 simple questions that will take 2 to 4 minutes
- Complete a spread sheet, on an annual basis, that records all spend you had with non-panel providers
- Crown Law remains a provider of legal services to the wider state sector and sits alongside the panel
The providers
Banking and Finance
| Corporate and Commercial |
Employment | Environmental and Resource Management |
Litigation | Property |
Public | |
The Buyers' guide
This guide provides agencies with an overview of:
- Key benefits of buying off this contract
- How agencies will transition to the contract
- What you can buy off the contract, and how
- Roles and responsibilities: buyers, providers and the Centre of Expertise.
Download a copy of the External Legal Services Buyers' Guide [858 KB PDF]
The Legal Services Order
The Legal Services Order is used by agencies to brief legal work out to providers. More information concerning the Legal Services Order can be found in the buyers’ guide.
- Download a copy of the Legal Services Order [191 KB DOC]
- Download a copy of the abbreviated Email Legal Services Order [17 KB DOC]
Contact the ELS CoE
If you have any questions in relation to the operation of this contract, please contact:
Susan Haynes
Senior Procurement Analyst
External Legal Services - Centre of Expertise
Phone: +64 (0)4 901 1619
Email: ELS@med.govt.nz
![[link to Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website].](http://www.business.govt.nz/procurement/site-tools/footer-images/mbiefooterlogo.png "[link to Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website].")
![[link to the New Zealand government business website].](http://www.business.govt.nz/procurement/site-tools/footer-images/link-to-the-new-zealand-government-business-website.png "[link to the New Zealand government business website].")
